A Pack of Lies

7

Three months. That's how long it has been since I woke up from the coma I had fallen into after the rogue attack. Alpha Wright had been down right strict when it came to following the pack doctor's orders. He wanted to make sure that I didn't do anything that would set my recovery back.

We had spent the past three months worrying that my wolf would be forever dormant, or that she had just given up and died. But I knew that that was far beyond the truth. She had just been recovering. The years we had spent watching our mate make a life for himself with our half-sister, only to be reminded that we were not what he wanted as a mate, it took his toll on her. 

But something was happening between the alpha and myself. Something that was drawing my wolf from her shell that she had been hiding in. His presence made me happy, happier than Jeb could ever dream of making me. But I kept my feelings hidden. He was the alpha of the pack. He needed someone better than me. 

A nod from me told the laochra that training was done for the day. I watched as most of them took off into the woods. I knew that they would be running the same trail I had used this morning, but they were getting close to my time around the territory. Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood up and I knew that Thaddeus was behind me. "May I help you with anything, Alpha?" I asked softly, trying my best to keep my heart from racing. 

He chuckled softly, sending a shiver down my spine. "Yes you can Hope. You can say yes when I ask you to join me to night for dinner." My breath caught in my throat. He was asking me out on a date? "I..." He laid a finger on my lips, stopping me from speaking. "Please Hope, just say yes. I would love to spend the night getting to know you as a woman, not as my ceann laoch." 

My heart thudded against my chest and I nodded slowly. "I would be honored... Thaddeus." 

"Good. I'll meet you in the foyer about seven." He ghosted a kiss on my forehead and I thought my lungs would forget to breath. Maybe, just maybe he felt the same about me as I was starting to feel about him.

Turning around, I watched as he made his way back towards the pack house, slipping through the back kitchen door. Thaddeus Wright was everything I had always dreamed my mate would be. Shaking my head, I smile as I head into the forest for my run. 

At six-thirty, I gave my outfit one last look in the mirror and walked out of my room. The black dress that I had picked out hugged my body like a glove while still being modest. My hair hung down with slight wave to it. For the first time in a long time, I honestly like the way I looked. When I made it to the foyer, Thaddeus was waiting for me. 

I held my breath as I took him in. The black suit he wore hugged his shoulders. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone. Thaddeus stood there like a breath-taking statue. Taking the last step forward, Thaddeus looked up and smiled at me. When our eyes met, my heart started to race. "Are you ready to go?" He asked softly as he moved towards me. 

Giving him a small smile, I nod. I watched as he took my coat from me and held it out for me to slip on. Not a word was said between us as he lead us out to his car. And when he held the door open for me, I smiled wider.He was the definition of a gentleman. 

On the ride to the restaurant, Thaddeus and I made small talk.It was safe to say that I had never laughed that hard in ages. When we reached the restaurant, he told me to wait in the car while he walked around and opened the door for me. Thaddeus helped me out and we made our way inside. "The pack owns it," he explained as we were lead to a table. 

After we ordered, Thaddeus leaned forward, smiling. "So, Hope, what is one thing about you that no one else knows?" There was something about him that made me feel like I could tell me my deepest, darkest secret and that he wouldn't judge me for it. Leaning forward, I look up at him. "I never wanted to be a laoch. That was something my uncle wanted me to do, to be able to protect the pack and my cousin."